brown



April 14, 1964 C. C. BROWN WELL PACKER ASSEMBLIES Filed Nov. 21, 1960 I5C I50.

19 I6 I8 IBJ 21a 3 Sheets-Sheet l CIERO C. BROWN ATTORNEYS April 14,1964 c. c. BROWN v 3,128,826

WELL PACKEIR ASSEMBLIES Filed Nov. 21, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ace/e0 c.BROWN INVENTOR.

A TTORNEV April 14, 1964 c. c. BROWN 3,128,826

WELL PACKER ASSEMBLIES Filed Nov. 21, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTM/YEVS0/05/20 4. BROWN INVENTOR.

BY gr 7! M r United States Patent 3,128,826 WELL PACKER ASEMBLTE CiceroC. Brown, 8490 Katy Road, Houston, Tex. Filed Nov. 21, 1%9, Ser. No.70,548 1th Ciairns. (Cl. 166-134) This invention relates to new anduseful improvements in well packer assemblies.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved well packerassembly of simple and inexpensive structure which may be employedeither as a weight-set packer, where the weight of the tubing is imposedupon the packing element, or as a tension-set packer wherein upwardtension on the pipe string which carries the packer is employed tomaintain the assembly in its set position.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved wellpacker assembly including a flexible sleevelike packer element and ananchoring means, together with a coil spring mounted to co-act with saidelement and anchoring means in a manner to maintain the packing elementin its unset position during lowering and raising and to assist in therelease of the packing element when the assembly is to be removed fromthe well here.

A further object is to provide a well packer assembly which may be usedas a weight-set or a tension-set packer and which is constructed so thatthe difierential of pressure across the packing element of the assemblywill maintain said element in its sealing position, the assembly alsoincluding a simple type holddown means which is incorporated within thepacking element and which functions to prevent displacement of theassembly in one direction by an unbalanced pressure across the packer.

Still another object is to provide a packer assembly which is applicablefor use with a gripping unit which is associated with the supportingslips of the packer anchoring means, with said gripping unit beingconstructed to positively lock the gripping slips against movementwithin the pipe when the anchoring means is to be set Within the wellpipe.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown,and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a wellpacker assembly constructed in accordance with the invention and showingsaid assembly in a normal or unset position;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view with the packer assembly in its set positionwithin the Well bore;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are horizontal cross-sectional views taken on the lines3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFIGURE 1 and showing the frictional gripping unit which is employed inthe packer assembly, with said unit in a normal or nongripping position;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 with the gripping members of saidgripping unit in a position engaging the wall of the well pipe;

FIGURE 7 is a view partly in section and partly in elevationillustrating the packer being lowered into the well bore in a reversedposition when said packer is being employed as a tension type packer;and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 with the packer assembly in itsset position.

In the drawings (FIGURES 1 and 2) the numeral 10 designates a tubularmandrel or support having an axial 3,128,826 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 "Icebore 10a and forming the main supporting element of the packer assembly.The mandrel is connected in a well tubing string T in the usual mannerby an upper coupling 11 and a lower coupling 11a. The mandrel or supportextends entirely through the well packer assembly and an annularflexible packing element or sleeve 12 surrounds the upper end thereofwith the upper end of said pack-ing element being confined by an annularconfining abutment or collar 13. The abutment or collar is supportedagainst downward movement with respect to the mandrel It} by theengagement of an internal shoulder 13a formed within said collar with anexternal supporting ring or shoulder 14 on the mandrel. A plurality ofsegmental holddown slip members 15, having external gripping teeth 15a,have their major portions embedded, preferably by molding, within theupper exterior surface of the packing element. The upper end of eachslip member has an inwardly directed guide lug 15b which engages with acomplementary groove in the retaining collar 13. When the packingelement is deformed into sealing engagement with the well pipe or casingC, as will be hereinafter explained, the segmental slip members moveradially outwardly to engage their gripping teeth 15a with the casingwall. With the packing element in its normal undistorted position asshown in FIGURE 1, the holddown slip members are in a retracted ornongripping position.

The lower end of the sleeve-like packing element 12 is secured to andconfined by a lower abutment or retaining collar 16 which surrounds themandrel 10 and said collar is normally supported upon a supporting ring17 secured to the external surface of the mandrel. The ring 17 forms anexternal projection or shoulder which limits the downward movement ofthe lower retaining collar and, therefore, of the packing element withrespect to the mandrel. The integral annular flange 16a depends from theretaining collar 16 and encircles the upper end of an annular expandercone 18, being secured to the upper portion of said cone by suitablescrews 19. The expander cone 18 is provided with a bore 18a and acounterbore 1 8b, thereby forming an internal shoulder 18c at theintersection of said bore and counter bore. The bore 18a is of adiameter to slidably engage the exterior of the mandrel while thecounterbore 18b has a diameter to fit the exterior of the supportingring 17, whereby said ring is, in eiiect, movable within thecounterbore. A relatively strong coil spring 20 is confined in thecounterbore 181) between the shoulder 18c and the underside of thesupporting ring 17 and exerts its pressure to constantly urge the cone18 in a downward direction with respect to the mandrel. Since theexpander is connected to the lower end of the packing element throughthe retaining collar 16, the spring functions to constantly urge thepacking element toward an extended position in which position saidelement is retracted or in nonsealing engagement with the casing, asillustrated in FIGURE 1.

The expander cone 18 is adapted to co-act in the usual well-known mannerwith gripping slips 21, said cone being formed with expanding surfaces18d which co-act with the inclined inner surfaces 23a of the slips 21.The expander cone and the slips 21 comprise an anchoring means for thepacker assembly. Each slip 21 has a T-shaped connecting lug 22 on itslower end, which lug is engageable with a complementary recess 22aprovided in the upper end of a gripping unit generally indicated by theletter A. The particular gripping unit is employed in place of the usualwell-known friction springs and may be of the type shown in myco-pending application, Serial No. 769,189, filed October 23, 1958. I

The gripping unit A comprises a tubular sleeve 23 which surrounds thelower portion of the mandrel 10 and which is adapted to be connected tosaid mandrel through the usual J-slot 24 in the sleeve and a connectingpin 25 which extends radially outwardly from the mandrel. The J-slot hasa vertical portion 2411 having its upper end communicating with aninclined portion, at the base of which a pin-receiving recess 24:: isformed. The tubular sleeve 23 has an outwardly directed, integral flangeportion 23a at its upper end and the T-shaped recesses 22a which receivethe slip lugs 22 are disposed in this flange portion, whereby thegripping slips 21 are connected to the upper end of the gripping unit A.An annular base ring 23b is mounted on the sleeve 23 and is spaced fromthe enlarged upper flange portion 23a of said sleeve to provide an areafor the mounting of gripping elements S of said gripping unit A.

As shown in FIGURES and 6, each gripping element S is in the form of agenerally semicircular or arcuate shoe which substantially encirclesone-half of the tubular sleeve 23. The lower end of each shoe has adepending extension 26 (FIGURE 1) which co-acts with an upstandingprojection 27 on the flange 2322 while the upper end of each shoe has anupward extension 28 co-acting with a depending projection 29 formed onthe enlarged upper portion 23a of the sleeve 23. The coaction betweenthe extensions and projections limits the outward movement of each shoewith respect to the tubular sleeve.

Each arcuate shoe has an enlarged contact section 30 and the centralouter surface 36a of this section is substantially smooth to engage thewall of the well casing C when the shoe is in non-gripping position.Gripping teeth 30b and 300 are formed on each side of the smooth surface30a as is clearly shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The shoes S are positionedaround the sleeve 23 within the space between the enlarged upper portion23a and the base ring 23b and are urged outwardly under the influence ofcoil springs 31 so that their respective smooth surfaces 30:: engage thewall of the Well casing. The ends of the springs 31 are confined withinsuitable recesses 32 provided in the free ends of the shoes S and saidsprings 31 are relatively weak, being only sufficient to urge the smoothareas of the shoes into contact with the wall of the pipe with arelatively light friction. This frictional force need be only sufiicientto prevent the shoe elements from rotating, whereby the assembly may belowered downwardly through the well casing without presenting any greatresistance to such movement.

For the purpose of increasing the engagement of each shoe S with thewall of the casing in order to assure that the gripping slips 21 securedthereto Will be held against movement when the assembly is to be set,each gripping shoe S has the internal surface of its enlarged portion 30inclined in the manner indicated at 33 and 34. These inclined surfacesare adapted to co-act with a cam type projection 35 which is formed onthe external surface of the sleeve 23. As clearly shown in FIGURE 5, twodiametrically opposed projections 35 are provided and these projectionsare normally located as shown in this figure with respect to theinclined surfaces 36 and 37 of the arcuate shoes.

Upon a rotation of the sleeve 23 and its projections 35 with respect tothe shoes S, the projections 35, co-acting with one or the othersurfaces 33 or 34 of each shoe, will result in imparting a rockingmotion to the shoes in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6. Such movementof each of the shoes results in the engagement of the gripping teethStib or 360 of each shoe with the wall of the casing to firmly lock thegripping unit A against rotation or other movement within the wellcasing. Since the gripping slips 21 are carried by and connected to theunit, an anchoring of this unit within the pipe will result insupporting the gripping slips 21 of the packer assembly against movementin the pipe. As will be explained, locking of the gripping slips 21against movement within the casing will permit the expander cone 18 tobe moved downwardly relative thereto whereby said gripping slips may bemoved into gripping or anchoring position to prevent further downwardmovement of the cone and, therefore, of the packing element.

In the operation of the packer assembly shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 whereinthe packing element is set by imposing the weight of the tubing stringthereon, the parts are in the position shown in FIGURE 1 as the deviceis lowered within the well casing. In this position, the gripping unit Ahas its gripping shoes S in the position of FIGURE 5 with only thesmooth portion or surface 30a of each shoe riding lightly upon the innerwall of the casing; the mandrel 10 is connected to the sleeve 23 of thegripping unit A through the pin 25 engaging within the recess 24a of theJ-slot 24 and this connection maintains the slips 21 in an unsetposition on the mandrel.

At this time, packing element 12 is in its relaxed or retracted positionand the slip expander cone 18 is raised with respect to the grippingslips. The relatively strong spring 20, which is confined between theshoulder 18c of the expander cone and the underside of the support ring17, is exerting its pressure to hold the retaining collar 16 in contactwith the support ring whereby the packer element 12 is maintained in itsretracted position during lowering. Any tendency of said packing elementto move into a sealing position by reason of fluid pressure actingupwardly against the lower end of said element during lowering isovercome and eliminated by the provision of the spring 20.

When the position at which the packer assembly is to be set within thewell pipe is reached, the tubing T by which the assembly is lowered isrotated in a direction to the right. The first action is a rotation ofthe sleeve 23 of the gripping unit since the pin 25 on the mandrel isengaged in the recess 24a of the J-slot. As the sleeve 23 is rotated,its projections 35 immediately co-act with the surfaces 34 of thegripping shoes S and move said shoes into the gripping position ofFIGURE 6. This anchors the gripping unit A firmly within the well casingand also locks the gripping slips 21 against any move ment therein.

Thereafter, a slight upward movement and continued rotation of themandrel 10 moves the connecting pin 25' into alignment with the inclinedportion of the J-slot an the pin will thus be guided into alignment withthe vertical portion 24b of the J-slot; thereafter, the mandrel andtubing may be lowered with respect to the unit A and gripping slips 21.Such lowering moves the expander cone 18 downwardly between the maingripping slips 21 to set said slips and the subsequent application ofthe weight of the tubing string upon the upper end of the packingelement 12 moves the parts to the position of FIGURE 2 with the packingelement being deformed into sealing position with the wall of the wellcasing. This action is permitted since the coil spring 20 may becompressed after further downward movement of the expander cone isarrested by gripping slips 21.

At the same time that the packing sleeve 12 is deformed outwardly, theholddown gripping elements 15 on the upper portion of the packingelement are moved radially outwardly into engagement with the wall ofthe casing. Thus, the packer assembly anchoring means consisting ofslips 21 and expander cone 13 is set and the flexible packing element 12is moved into sealing engagement with the wall of the casing. Downwardmovement of the entire packer assembly is prevented by the slips 21whileany upward movement of the packing element 12 is prevented by theholddown gripping elements 15; it is noted that the gripping teeth 15aof the holddown members are disposed to lock against upward movement.The members 15 provide a simple and inexpensive holddown means forlocking the assembly against upward movement.

When the packer assembly is in set position, pressure in the annulusabove the packing element will act downwardly on the sealing element andthen downwardly upon the expander to set the lower slips 21 into tightergripping engagement. To set the holddown gripping members 15 intotighter gripping engagement in the event pressure below the packingelement is greater than that above, radial ports 40 are provided in thelower retaining collar 16 and establish communication between the areabelow the assembly and the entire lower surface of the element 12. Thuspressure from below may act upwardly against the underside of thepacking element 12 to urge the packing element into tighter sealingengagement and to also urge the holddown slips 15 into tighter grippingengagement with the casing to thereby prevent upward displacement of theassembly within the casing. It is noted that when the packer is in setposition, the heavy coil spring is under compression and is held so bythe weight of the tubing string.

In order to release and remove the packer, it is only necessary to movethe well tubing T and mandrel upwardly. Such upward movement beingpermitted by movement of the connecting pin 25 upwardly in the verticalportion 24b of the J-slot. As the tubing is lifted, the weight of saidtubing is removed from the upper end of the packing element and theforce holding said packing element in its deformed position is relieved.The heavy coil spring 20 will assist in moving the mandrel upwardlybecause its lower end is acting on the shoulder 18c within the expanderand, therefore, the energy and force of said spring is in an upwarddirection against the supporting ring 17. As the mandrel is raised, theconnecting pin 23, co-acting with the inclined wall of the J-slot 24,moves the pin into contact with the straight wall of said slot above therecess 24a and subsequent rotation of the tubing to the left willrelease the gripping unit A. When the parts return to the position ofFIGURE 1, the ring 17 has effected raising of the cone 18 from betweenthe gripping slips 21 and the entire assembly may be removed from thewell merely by lifting the tubing to the surface; during this removal,the coil spring maintains the packing element in its retracted position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the coil spring 20 co-acts withthe packing element 12 and expander cone 18 in a manner to prevent apremature movement of the packing element into its set position. Also,during release, the coil spring is acting in a direction tending to movethe mandrel upwardly relative to the set packing element so that saidspring assists rather than resists release of the assembly. Theprovision of the ports 40 in the lower retaining collar 16 is ofimportance in that pressures from below the packing element may actthrough said ports and against the entire underside of said element.Whenever pressure below the set packing element exceeds that above saidelement, the pressure acting against the entire lower surface of thepacking element exerts a force which assures that deformation of theelement is maintained to thereby assure firm gripping engagement of theholddown members with the casing C. In effect, the pressure below thepacking element 12 thus urges the holddown members 15 into tightergriping engagement.

As has been noted, FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrate the packer assemblyemployed as a weight-set packer. In such packers the weight of thetubing string is imposed upon the upper end of the packing element 12 todeform the same into its sealing position with the casing. In FIGURES 7and 8 the assembly is illustrated as being used as a tension-set packer.In this case an upward tension on the tubing string is employed to applyendwise force to the packing element 12 and such tension is utilized tomaintain the packer in position.

To employ the assembly as a tension-set packer, it is only necessary toinvert the packer from the position of FIGURE 1 and to lower it in itsinverted position. Referring to FIGURE 7, the gripping unit A isdisposed at the upper end of the assembly with the packing element 12 atthe lower end thereof. During lowering, the parts are in the positionshown in FIGURE 7 with the connecting pin 25 of mandrel 16 disposedwithin the recess 24a of the J-slot 24. At this time the packing elementis in a released or retracted position and the gripping slips are raisedrelative to the expander cone 21. The heavy coil spring 24 confinedbetween shoulder 18c and the supporting ring 17 is acting to hold theretaining collar 16 against said supporting ring.

When the assembly of FIGURE 7 reaches the position at which it is to beset, a left-hand torque is applied to the tubing string and such torqueresults in a rotation of the sleeve 23 and its projections 35 withrespect to the gripping shoes; rotation of the sleeve is caused by theengagement of the pin 25 with the short recess 24a of the J-slot. Asexplained, the gripping shoes S engage the wall of the casing to lockthe gripping slips 21 of the packer anchoring means against movementwithin the pipe.

Thereafter, the tubing string 19 is lowered sufiiciently to cause pin 25to clear the recess 24a and to move said pin into alignment with theinclined portion of the J-slot. Raising of the tubing will cause pin 25to align with vertical portion 24b. The tubing is then raised and placedunder the desired setting tension, the raising of the tubing effectingan upward movement of the expander cone to expand the slips 21, followedby deformation of the packing element 12 into sealing engagement withthe casing. The torque in the tubing string is then preferably releasedbut the desired tension is maintained to hold the assembly in setposition as shown in FIGURE 8.

To release the assembly from the position of FIGURE 8, the tubing stringis first lowered to relieve the tension on the packer and is then placeunder a right-hand torque. Further lowering of the tubing results inrelieving the endwise force applied to the packing element 12 and therelease is assisted by the action of the spring 20 as has beenheretofore described. When the connecting pin 25 is returned into therecess 24a, the various parts have returned to their original positionas shown in FIGURE 7 and thereafter removal of the assembly by thetubing string may be carried out.

As in the first form of the invention, the heavy coil spring is employedto prevent premature setting of the packing element and to assist inrelease thereof. The provision of the communicating ports 4t in theretainer ring assure that the packing element and its holddown member 15will be maintained in set position by the pressure differential acrossthe packing element.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size,shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction, may be made within the scope of the appended claimsWithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A well packer assembly including, a tubular sup port, an annularflexible packing element mounted on the. support, an external abutmenton the support engaging with one end of the packing element to confinesaid element against movement in one direction on the support, ananchoring means for anchoring the assembly against movement in onedirection in a well bore carried by the support including an expandercone and slips, said packing element engaging one of said expander coneand said slips and confining that end of the packing element which isopposite the end engaged by said abutment, shoulder means on saidtubular support and said expander cone, a spring means engaging saidshoulder means on said tubular support and said expander cone urgingsaid expander cone in a direction permitting movement of said packingelement towards retracted or non-sealing position, and means mountingsaid anchoring means on the support for limited longitudinal movementrelative to said support, whereby said support may be moved with respectto the anchoring means after the latter has been ahchored within thewell bore to thereby apply end- Wire force to the packing element todeform the same into sealing position.

2. A well packer assembly as set forth in claim 1, together withsegmental holddown members embedded in the upper outer peripheralportion of the packing element and movable radially outwardly intogripping engagement with the wall of the well bore when said element isdeformed into sealing position.

3. A well packer assembly as set forth in claim 1, together with meansfor conducting the pressure which is present within the well bore andsurrounding the anchoring means against the entire cross-sectional areaof the packing element to urge said element into tighter sealingengagement.

4. A well packer assembly as set forth in claim 1, together withsegmental holddown members embedded in the upper outer peripheralportion of the packing element and movable radially outwardly intogripping engagement with the wall of the well bore when said element isdeformed into sealing position, and means for conducting the pressurewhich is present in the well bore surrounding the anchoring meansagainst the entire crosssectional area of the packing element to urgesaid element and its holddown members into tighter engagement with thewall of the well bore.

5. A well package assembly including, a tubular support, an annularflexible packing element mounted on the support and deformable intosealing position with the Wall of the Well bore, an external abutment onthe support engaging one of the packing element to confine said elementagainst movement in one direction on the support, an anchoring means foranchoring the assembly against movement in one direction within a wellbore and comprising an expander cone surrounding the support adjacentthat end of the packing element opposite said abutment and grippingslips slidable relative to said cone, means for connecting the expandercone to that end of the packing element which is opposite the endengaged by the abutment, and spring means surrounding the support andco-acting with said support and expander cone and constantly urging saidexpander cone in a direction which will maintain the packing elementattached to said cone in a rectracted or non-sealing position.

6. A well packer assembly including a tubular support, an annularflexible packing element mounted on the support and deformable intosealing position with the wall of the Well bore, an external abutment onthe support engaging one end of the packing element to confine saidelement against movement in one direction on the support, an anchoringmeans for anchoring the assembly against movement in one directionwithin a well bore and comprising an expander cone surrounding thesupport adjacent that end of the packing element opposite said abutmentand gripping slips slideable relative to said cone, means for connectingthe expander cone to that end of the packing element which is oppositethe end engaged by the abutment, an external projection on said supportengageable by that end of the packing element which is, opposite theabutment when said packing element is in retracted position, and acoiled spring surrounding the support and confined between said externalprojection on the support and the expander cone and exerting its forceto constantly urge said cone and the packing element attached thereto ina direction maintaining the packing element engaged with said shoulderwhereby the packing element is constantly urged toward its retractedposition.

7. A well packer assembly as set forth in claim 5, together with meansfor conducting the pressure which is present in the Well bore andsurrounding the anchoring means against the entire cross-sectional areaof the packing element when said element is in its sealing position tourge said element into tighter sealing engagement with the wall of thewell bore.

8. A well packer assembly as set forth in claim 5, together withsegmental holddown members embedded in the upper outer peripheralportion of said packing element and movable radially outwardly intogripping engagement with the Wall of the well bore when said element isdeformed into sealing position.

9. A well packer assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein the anchoringmeans also includes a gripping unit connected with the gripping slips,said unit comprising a sleeve slideably surrounding the support, arcuategripping shoes mounted on the sleeve, and cam-surfaces between thesleeve and shoes adapted to move the shoes into gripping engagement withthe wall of the Well bore upon relative rotation of the sleeve andshoes, and a connection between the support and sleeve whereby rotationmay be imparted to the sleeve to actuate said shoes and thereby hold thegripping slips stationary to allow movement of the expander cone withrespect to the slips to set the latter.

10. A well packer assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein theanchoring means also includes a gripping unit connected with thegripping slips, said unit comprising a sleeve slideably surrounding thesupport, arcuate gripping shoes mounted on the sleeve, and cam-surfacesbetween the sleeve and shoes adapted to move the shoes into grippingengagement with the wall of the well bore upon relative rotation of thesleeve and shoes, and a connection between the support and sleevewhereby rotation may be imparted to the sleeve to actuate said shoes andthereby hold the gripping slips stationary to allow movement of theexpander cone with respect to the slips to set the latter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,772,682 Phipps Aug. 12, 1930 2,590,502 Brown Mar. 25, 1952 2,639,773Webber May 26, 1953 2,652,894 Brown et al Sept. 22, 1953

1. A WELL PACKER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING, A TUBULAR SUPPORT, AN ANNULARFLEXIBLE PACKING ELEMENT MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT, AN EXTERNAL ABUTMENT ONTHE SUPPORT ENGAGING WITH ONE END OF THE PACKING ELEMENT TO CONFINE SAIDELEMENT AGAINST MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION ON THE SUPPORT, AN ANCHORINGMEANS FOR ANCHORING THE ASSEMBLY AGAINST MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION IN AWELL BORE CARRIED BY THE SUPPORT INCLUDING AN EXPANDER CONE AND SLIPS,SAID PACKING ELEMENT ENGAGING ONE OF SAID EXPANDER CONE AND SAID SLIPSAND CONFINING THAT END OF THE PACKING ELEMENT WHICH IS OPPOSITE THE ENDENGAGED BY SAID ABUTMENT, SHOULDER MEANS ON SAID TUBULAR SUPPORT ANDSAID EXPANDER CONE, A SPRING MEANS ENGAGING SAID SHOULDER MEANS ON SAIDTUBULAR SUPPORT AND SAID EXPANDER CONE URGING SAID EXPANDER CONE IN ADIRECTION PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF SAID PACKING ELEMENT TOWARDS RETRACTEDOR NON-SEALING POSITION, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID ANCHORING MEANS ON THESUPPORT FOR LIMITED LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT,WHEREBY SAID SUPPORT MAY BE MOVED WITH RESPECT TO THE ANCHORING MEANSAFTER THE LATTER HAS BEEN ANCHORED WITHIN THE WELL BORE TO THEREBY APPLYENDWISE FORCE TO THE PACKING ELEMENT TO DEFORM THE SAME INTO SEALINGPOSITION.